The Strange History of Ghislaine Maxwell Associate Laura Goldman

Including some questions as to her veracity

Charges Announced Against Epstein Confidante Ghislaine Maxwell By Acting NY Southern District US Audrey Strauss
Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, speaks to the media at a press conference to announce the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime girlfriend and accused accomplice of deceased accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein on July 02, 2020 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Earlier this month, Ghislaine Maxwell — best-known for her close association with Jeffrey Epstein — was arrested in New Hampshire. Since then, a number of media outlets have sought commentary from Laura Goldman, who has emerged as a go-to source for some reporters seeking insight into Maxwell’s activities. Questions have lingered about Goldman’s veracity, however — and a new report at The Daily Beast opens the door to an even more skeptical read of her commentary.

The article, by Maxwell Tani and Lachlan Cartwright, offers a worrying portrayal of Goldman’s media presence. This includes commentary from one British journalist, who expressed skepticism — to say the least — regarding Goldman. “Most of us will not go near her,” the journalisr told The Daily Beast. “She’s a complete fantasist.”

Tani and Cartwright show an industry divided over Goldman’s reliability as a source. Some journalists and fact-checkers have stayed away from relying on her information, while other media organizations have sought her out as a source or guest. And while some details of Goldman’s association with Maxwell check out, other aspects of Goldman’s history — including being extradited to the United States after she’d left the country following an extortion charge — have left people skeptical.

As it turns out, Maxwell isn’t the only high-pr0file figure for whom Goldman has established herself as an insider:

[Goldman] has pivoted as of late to tweeting insider information about the bidding war to purchase the New York Mets. Goldman has claimed to be friends with hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen, a current franchise minority owner and frontrunner in the sweepstakes.

Can Goldman’s information on Maxwell be trusted? What about her insights into the Mets? Tani and Cartwright’s report leaves readers plenty to ponder.

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